Science of Fights

Mayweather vs Ortiz: Is it a fixed fight?

2011-09-22T20:25:00.001+08:00

Every globally recognized sport has its own fair share ofbizarre incidents and hateable characters. We have Lebron as NBA’s mostrecognized choke artist, the polygamous Tiger Woods for golf, and the enhanced Sosa’sand Mcgwire’s of baseball. These personalities are amazing players of theirchosen sport but they do have flaws and had made decisions that shook thesporting world.

In boxing right now, we have Floyd Mayweather Jr. His lastfight against Victor Ortiz is just another testimony to Floyd’s outrageous personalityas a leading sports figure. His beautifully executed left-hook, right-straightcombination knockout of Ortiz is overshadowed by the fact that Ortiz (andreferee, Joe Cortez) seemed to be caught off-guard when it happened which madepeople think of Mayweather’s win as either cheap or a cheat.

Boxing fans and the media were abuzz over the latestFloyd-esque turn of events. Discussions flooded bars, social networks, and webforums. The most common dispute is over the legality of the punch. Was it bytechnicality, a legal blow? Or was it a punch on time-out? Some argue whetherit was a sucker punch or Ortiz really deserved that one for being an idiot.

These are the prevalent opinions:

Floyd is a cheater and he punched Ortiz fullyknowing that they were still on time-out. Mayweather would have probably lostor was having a hard time in that fight; he had found a way to cheat and win.
The punch, by any means, was legal. However itwas still a cheap shot to a ceremoniously apologetic Ortiz. It was anundeserving win for Floyd.
Floyd just did what a boxer should do. He didnot cheat. It was a legal blow and Ortiz was just a stupid fighter who deservedto be knocked out for the headbutt he initiated.
The headbutt was wrong. The punches were legalbut still cheap.

For me, the opinions stated above are futile because I, forone, see it differently and I am sure that there are others that share myopinion. The fight between Mayweatherand Ortiz was fixed!

Yes. I truly believe that the match was fixed—even worse, it was staged. The people involvedespecially Floyd Mayweather Jr. had the means and motive to pull it off.

Hyping up a match by making it appear more competitive thanit should is the norm in marketing fights. Making it appear that there’s badblood between fighters is understandable. Boxing fans are tolerant of such “hyping”methods but staging a high profile fight is unforgivable.

This is how I saw thefight:

Floyd and his Money Team, Victor Ortiz, JoeCortez, Delahoya, and GBP, were involved in this disgrace of a fight. The fixcould never be done without these key figures.
During the early rounds, a mock boxing match wasbeing acted out—making spectators believe that they genuinely wanted to hurteach other. This is relatively easy particularly for professional fighters likeOrtiz and Mayweather.
The headbutts and dirty tactics employed byOrtiz were planned. Why? Because these would supposedly justify Mayweather’s actionslater on. The “jumping” headbutt was too obvious, making sure that it wouldn’tgo unnoticed. Ortiz really appeared villainous in those exchanges. Again, thosewere all done for a purpose.
The over-the-top headbutt was the cue. Thesucceeding events such as the time-out, separation of fighters, and Cortez’sactions of looking away while Floyd delivering the knockout blow were tootheatrical and contrived.
Ortiz was supposed to stay down and out of hiswits.
Cortez called it a KO win for Mayweather andeveryone involved were laughing all the way to the bank.

It is my belief that Mayweather is a shot fighter and he knows it.

He knows that he cannot compete at a high level anymore. Heknows that Pacquiao will easily beat him. He knows that other fighters withinhis fighting weight range can put a stain on his perfect record.

Money May might have lost his boxing prowess but hisbusiness skills made up for it. So in order to maintain the “Money” image andfinancial edge, he has to cherrypick fighters or fix fights.

Mayweather’s main motivation is money and maintaining theillusion that he is still a very good fighter. With his place inpound-for-pound rankings and current fight earnings, saying that he issuccessful is an understatement.

His first fight out of his so-called retirement is ahandpicked match against Marquez who had never fought heavier than 135 pounds.Floyd even made sure of his advantages over the Mexican by going 2 pounds beyondthe contract weight. His next fight after that was against the aging butperennially considered dangerous Shane Mosley. In my opinion, that fight wasalso fixed but this post is about the fight against Ortiz and why I see it asstaged.

Motives andCircumstantial Evidence

Mayweather has found allies in Oscar De la Hoya (GBP). The displayedhostility between the two is all part of the charade. Like Mayweather, De laHoya is money-motivated and has everything to gain as long as Mayweathercontinues to sell blockbuster fights because Floyd only works with GBP. Thismakes it easy for Floyd to pull strings.

Floyd chose Ortiz for a reason: he has a belt, he’s young,and he’s gullible. Ortiz’s character is also questionable as he is alleged tofabricate his life story. My bet is that he was paid more than what was stated.

Why Ortiz did it. It was supposed to be his shot to greatness.

Well, Victor Ortiz is not made of the stuff of champions. Hewas also in for the money. In his mind, beating Mayweather wouldn’t bring asmuch cash in total. He might’ve considered that he wouldn’t be able to get pastother fighters after Mayweather.

For GBP, a Mayweather headliner is always a highlyprofitable event. Making sure it stayed that way, Golden Boy Promotions couldhave manipulated Ortiz to take a dive and receive an amount beyond everythinghe could’ve made. Depending on public opinion, Ortiz can even get a rematch andanother possibility of a high payday. Their script made it possible. Like Isaid, Ortiz is gullible.

Floyd is more than happy to sacrifice a part of his earningsfor this. He retains his command as an undefeated boxer and still maintains theillusion that he is a one-of-kind fighter with a style that no one can solve.Again, that sells fights.

To top it off, they hired Joe Cortez to officiate inside thering. He is known to be biased and also a shady character. The way Cortez looksaway during the moment of the knockout was so staged and pretentious, it leftme dumbfounded. Whether he signaled to box or not is meaningless, the point ofthe whole act is to create a controversy and most importantly, a win forMayweather.

The headbutt was designed to make a villain out of Ortiz. Italso added to the impression that he’s losing and frustrated. It would alsojustify the “sucker punches” thrown by Mayweather. It would strengthen theclaim that those punches were called for.

If the public perceives that Ortiz deserved to be KOed andwas going to lose anyway, it is good for Floyd’s reputation as a skilledfighter. Otherwise, a rematch could be made and if the demand for it is enough,it will be another lucrative venture for Mayweather and the crew. It would alsoprovide another excuse to fight Pacquiao or another worthy opponent for thatmatter.

Why not take theconventional dive? Why all the drama?

There’s a couple of reasons. One, they need a controversialwin to pave way for a possible rematch. The other reason is to add realism tothe KO. Although it’s easy to act out a fight, it is harder to pull off abelievable knockout. Remember Marquez vs Ramos? Ortiz did get hit hard and tomost people that will erase all doubts that the fight was fake. Not me.

Sooner or later, Floyd will run out of excuses. The nextrelevant fighter to cherrypick might never come. Not all fighters can be paidto take a dive. Eventually, Floyd Mayweather will have to fight a very goodfighter (for real) if he still needs the money. Or, he can just retireundefeated.

Despite these, a possibility of a Mayweather-Pacquiao stillsurvives simply because of the money it can potentially make. Pacquiao has alreadyvoiced his plans for retirement and it’s closing in fast. He will run forgovernor in 2013. That means 2 to 3 fights away (after Marquez) before hanging them up.He is also running out of worthy and logical opponents apart from Mayweather. WithPacquiao in retirement, Mayweather might as well retire because he won’tgenerate as much money without the looming possibility of Pacquiao fightinghim.

There is no doubt in my mind that Floyd Mayweather Jr. willlose to Manny Pacquiao once they face each other. I just hope that before theFilipino retires, Mayweather is greedy enough to grow the balls to fightPacquiao.

Stalling and squeezing in as many fights as possible before actuallyfacing Pacquiao is a smart financial move for Floyd, after all, he’s all aboutthe money. But if he decides to completely steer clear of Pacquiao and retireundefeated, he will lose the very little respect the fans have for him. He willthen have a legacy of an undefeated boxer who had never fought the fighter(s)he needed to fight.

Still, this can end relatively well even for a bad guy likeMayweather. He can help boost the sinking sport of boxing and end his career ina more honorable way. He can give us all a big favor by fighting his greatestrival, let Pacquiao whoop his ass and expose him as the fraud he truly is.

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Pacquiao cracks Forbes list again and his new HP commercial

2011-06-02T19:35:00.001+08:00

The combination of Manny Pacquiao’s pugilistic genius and whirlwind aggression inside the ring made him boxing’s biggest draw. He’s an all-action fighter with an uncanny blend of affability and killer instinct.

Outside the boxing ring, the top pound-for-pound fighter has a remarkably untiring sociability without a hint of arrogance. This made him endearing and marketable as he does not only sell tickets and pay-per-views, he has also become an effective product endorser.

He purses around 25 million dollars with his usual two-fights-a-year schedule. Add the ever increasing endorsement deals and bonuses, he has become one of highest-paid athletes of this generation and a constant presence in Forbes’ richest athletes list.

His recent deal with HP is proof that he can carry a brand that is not even remotely related to the sport. Watch the HP Veer commercial below.

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Pacquiao vs Mosley Post-Fight Analysis: Shane not tough but smart survivor

2011-05-08T17:25:00.001+08:00

“Shane Mosley has the power to knock the lights out of Manny Pacquiao. The first four rounds are crucial.”

Leading up to the fight, that was the common consensus among boxing fans—analysts and laymen alike. Even Roach was in agreement of this.

Nazeem Richardson, Mosley’s trainer, had been saying that he was training his fighter to fight a defensive fighter because once Pacman felt Mosley’s power, the Pound-for-Pound king will go on the defensive.

The aging Shane Mosley might have that one-punch power like everyone was expecting but it proved to be almost a non-factor in the fight. Pacquiao was definitely tentative during the first two rounds but it is expected to be that way.

The first round was an obvious feel-out moment but Manny pick up in speed and aggression after that. The eventful third round came and it was perhaps the most exciting moment of the bout. Mosley was caught at the tail-end of Pacquiao’s combination—the renowned left straight of the champion. Mosley hit the canvas clearly dazed and confused.

For me, it was proof that Pacman has the power to knockout the likes of Shane Mosley who has endured the punches of light-middleweight fighters in the past. Shane also realized the very real possibility of him getting knocked out as he stood up from that knockdown.

However, that epiphany of Mosley made the remainder of the fight a boring one. Shane Mosley used all his skills and experience (and toughness???) to survive the fight. Mosley was never in the fight yet he was on his bike, circling left, away from Pacman’s power punch. He was even protecting the right side of his face like his life depended on it.

It was a good defensive plan but a losing one nonetheless as he was never willing to engage. Mosley very rarely attacked; his sledgehammer right hand never manifested. It was then clear that Mosley was in survival mode similar to Joshua Clottey when he was fighting the same opponent.

The only difference with Mosley’s defensive style compared to Clottey’s is that Shane is more mobile and cunning with disrupting Pacman’s combination rhythm whereas Clottey is more of shell-hiding turtle which Manny abused as a punching bag. Shane would often clinch if he had nowhere to go. They break-up and repeat the whole dance all night.

Mosley bored the crap out of me. Yes, more than Clottey. At least against Clottey, Manny could be seen teeing away with his combinations as the Ghanaian tried to endure the body shots.

In the 10th, referee Kenny Bayless mistakenly ruled a knockdown against Pacquiao but it was in fact a shove from Mosley as he was allegedly stepping on Pacquiao’s foot. Part of me was glad that it happened because after that, Manny felt the sudden surge of urgency that he had to knock his opponent out to save the fight from boredom.

But to no avail, Shane’s survival skills and instincts were just too much as he danced and clinched his way to hear the final bell. I think that’s the only thing commendable for Mosley in that fight—his skills to survive.

Mosley did not show toughness in that bout. Sure, he still holds the distinction that he has never been taken out in a fight but I was not convinced that he was as tough as everyone say he is, at least not now. He was smart not get knocked out but it was not toughness that made him a survivor.

Margarito, on the other hand, is one tough mofo. He stood his ground, he tried to bang, he got hit with murderous shots and got his orbital bone shattered by Pacman. He’s life was hanging by the thread but he survived. Manny might have taken it easy on Margarito in the final round but people are still shocked to see him standing. Now that’s tough what I call tough. And for Mosley? Not so much.

Contrary to some might say, Pacquiao tried to end the fight. He’s a friendly and merciful guy but I am pretty sure that he wanted to close that fight. For Manny, satisfaction of the fans is paramount and taking Mosley out was the menu of the night. However thanks to Mosley’s hyper-defensive skills and maybe also to Manny’s leg cramps in the middle rounds, the KO did not happen.

Nazeem Richardson: “I am training Shane to fight a defensive Pacquiao. When Shane cracks you, you become a defensive fighter.”

Yeah right.

I wish Pacquiao was extensively trained to fight a defensive fighter because Mosley definitely became one after he got cracked. Hah! The irony of it all.

Favorite quotes:

“Manny Pacquiao has the type of power I had to watch out for. Usually, I can go in there and punch with guys, but it seemed like he had something a little different. I had to watch out.”

--- Shane Mosley when interviewed after the fight

“Wala na sya, out na sya! Ikaw, warrior pa kaayo!”
(Translation: “He’s[Mosley’s] gone and out! But you are still a warrior!")

--- Buboy to Pacquiao during a round break

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Things I learned about Brock Lesnar after UFC 121

2010-10-27T00:13:00.003+08:00

Brock Lesnar was dethroned as “The Baddest Man Alive” after Cain Velasquez decimated him in UFC 121. It only took Velasquez one round to make it happen as he left Lesnar beaten to a bloody pulp after referee Herb Dean motioned to stop the fight.

Velasquez winning the fight did not really surprise me. His well-rounded skills and innate speed is certainly difficult to overcome even for someone like Lesnar. Rather, it was Lesnar’s performance in that fight that made me realize something about the monster.

Ever since Lesnar’s prominence in the UFC, I see him as an enigmatic fighter. I definitely revere his awesome size, strength, and athletic ability as they were instantly recognizable but I had lingering doubts about his composure, heart, adaptability, defense, and overall skills as a true MMA competitor.

The problem with Lesnar is the hype that surrounds him. It was really difficult to profile him and rank his aptitude in different aspects of the fight game because of the exaggerations. Many had claimed that he was improving by leaps and bounds and that he’s frighteningly getting better in every fight.

I almost believed that he’s unbeatable after submitting Shane Carwin with an arm triangle choke. But I respected my doubts. He still hadn’t fought Velasquez or Dos Santos. There’s still more to prove.

UFC 121 answered many of my questions and definitely debunked plenty of Brock Lesnar myths. Here are some of the things I’ve realized so far:

Lesnar’s wrestling is not light years ahead of competition

True, Brock was a monster in amateur—as well as professional—wrestling but in terms of MMA wrestling, he still has a lot to learn. He overwhelmed Frank Mir and Heath Herring with takedowns and top control but those two are notoriously weak wrestlers and cannot defend a takedown.

The washed-out Couture did well against Lesnar in the wrestling department considering that Randy is ancient and severely out-weighed in that fight. Couture’s wrestling skills were enough to prevent Lesnar from dominating him on the ground.

It was more of sheer strength and size that Lesnar’s able to devastate his opponents. Carwin nullified Brock’s takedowns in the first round and succumbed in the second round but it was due to Shane’s exhaustion not because of Brock’s technique.

In his last fight, Brock out-muscled Velasquez to make a successful takedown but he could not control Cain and maintain top position. On the other hand, Cain managed to take Lesnar down. The American-Mexican also took Brock’s back and pounded him with some good shots. That was the beginning of the end of Brock that night.

Brock cannot defend the ground and pound

Lesnar is a fearsome creature when he’s on top and pounding the crap out of you but when he’s on the receiving end, he doesn’t know what to do. He is bad on his back and incapable of defending intelligently. His only defensive tool is to simply block his face with his enormous forearms.

Lesnar has poor stand-up offense…

It may be an understatement now but people (including me) were once misled to believe that he was a “good” striker. His much-hyped knockdown of Herring and knockout of Couture helped build that reputation. But in reality, the former was merely a fluke and old Couture’s chin is not what it used to be.

Brock is a sloppy striker and he only has the 1-2 in his punching repertoire. Have you ever seen him throw a left hook? All he does is jab and try to land his straight… either those or go for the shoot/clinch. He does not have enough variety in his attacks.

…and even worse defense

Brock is easy to hit. If he stays within striking distance and chooses not to clinch or grapple, he will eat punches and kicks.

Lesnar has a good chin but cannot cope when hit

Give him props for surviving Carwin’s punch. He got clipped but recovered. Brock almost lost that fight. The referee’s decision not to stop the fight helped him greatly and fortunately for Lesnar, Shane has a very limited gas tank. Carwin had nothing left to spare in the second round.

What really struck me in that fight was Lesnar’s reaction when hit by a good shot. He instinctively turtled up after scrambling like a fool. But I gave him the benefit of the doubt; it was a Carwin punch after all.

He repeated that behavior against Velasquez. He doesn’t seem to have the heart, or perhaps the knowledge, to execute the defensive techniques he learned back in camp. His fear of getting hit again by a hard shot compels him to revert back to his flee instincts and that is to cover up for dear life.

Brock Lesnar lacks composure and maturity

Brock had actually thought that he could just bull rush and overwhelm any opponent with his size and strength. Well, he was proven wrong.

He had become a product of his own hype.

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UFC 125 is official; six exciting fights confirmed

2010-10-20T00:30:00.000+08:00

UFC, as part of its yearly tradition, aims to start its first event of the year with a stacked fight card. 2011 will be no different as UFC announces "UFC 125: Resolution, Edgar vs. Maynard". The event is set to take place in the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on New Year's Day.

The main event will be a lightweight title fight between the current champion, Frankie "The Answer" Edgar, and the number one contender, Gray "The Bully" Maynard. This fight is also a rematch between the two lightweights as the undefeated Maynard will look to repeat his win over "The Answer". Edgar, on the other hand, will try to avenge his only loss to retain his UFC lightweight belt.

The co-main event will feature heavyweights. Roy "Big Country" Nelson will prove that his skills and experience are enough to overcome the obvious power advantage of Shane Carwin. The hard-punching Carwin will try to get back in heavyweight contention after his loss from Brock Lesnar by beating the MMA veteran. The durable and crafty Nelson just came from a Dos Santos beating but a win over Carwin will definitely get him back on track.

As part of the main card, Clay "The Carpenter" Guida will battle the former PRIDE lightweight and Shooto welterweight champion Takanori Gomi. Both fighters just came from impressive wins—a submission win over Rafael Dos Anjos for Guida, and a knockout win over Tyson Griffin for Gomi.

The always exciting Chris "The Crippler" Leben will again test his renowned toughness and relentless attacking style against Brian Stann. Stann is the former WEC light-heavyweight champion with a good stand-up game and natural athleticism. This match is a potential "Fight of the Night" because both fighters are action-oriented and always aim to finish.

Nate Diaz is also in the mix and he is set to exhibit his great Jiu-jitsu and boxing skills against the undefeated Korean Dong Hyun Kim. Diaz is on the roll with impressive wins over Rory Markham and Marcus Davis. The Korean is one of the stronger welterweights but is often plagued with injuries which forced him to withdraw on three occasions. This fight is interesting because of the natural grappling strength advantage of Kim over Diaz. Fighting originally at lightweight, this will be Diaz's second fight in the welterweight division.

Brandon "The Truth" Vera vs. Thiago Silva is also in the official card. Both are talented strikers where Vera shines as a technical kickboxer and Silva as a hard-punching brawler. The fight will define both fighters' future in the UFC. They hope to redeem themselves from their recent losses.

UFC President Dana White is evidently excited. He knows that the fighters and match-ups in this fight card is a treat for MMA of fans.

"We always put a huge card together in Vegas to kick off the New Year," said White. "This is going to be a killer start to 2011."

Although the fighters of the main event have styles which are considered to be less crowd-pleasing, the motivation of Edgar and Maynard to win will likely make the match more thrilling. The champion and the challenger are both excited and hungry.

"I'm very excited to be fighting New Year's Day against a fighter that has a win over me," Edgar said. "I'm looking forward to putting on a great show and avenging my one loss. There are still a lot of people that are doubting me and that's fine. I've learned a lot since our last fight and I plan on successfully defending my title."

"I'm excited and honored to be fighting Frank Edgar in a lightweight title bout for the UFC," Maynard said. "Edgar is a great opponent; I'm looking forward to an exciting and tough fight with him. After years of hard work and sacrifice, this brings me one step closer to my goal of winning the belt."

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Pacquiao vs Margarito Breakdown

2010-10-08T00:52:00.009+08:00

The #1 pound-for-pound fighter, Manny Pacquiao will face Tijuana’s Tornado, Antonio Margarito, for the vacant WBC light middleweight title on November 13. Despite all of the controversies surrounding the two fighters, particularly Margarito, this match will surely provide an action-packed encounter since both fighters are known for their aggression.

Both are primarily brawlers. Pacquiao may have shown that he has evolved from a head-on slugger into a boxer-puncher but his instinct for offense is still intact. Margarito, on the other hand, is expected to do what he does best and that is to attack with relentless pressure. However, the Mexican should also be smart and take advantage of his size and reach.

Here is a breakdown of their match-up:

Size

This one is a no-brainer. Margarito is almost five inches taller than Pacman and the Mexican will enjoy a whopping 6-inch reach advantage. Moreover, Margarito is physically bigger than Pacquiao in almost all aspects—from bicep size to calf size.

Huge Advantage goes to Margarito

Speed

Pacquiao is well-known for his fast in-and-out attacks and blazing combinations. His foot speed is second to none and it will be hard to catch him flush if decides to run and box. It is only fortunate for us fans that he doesn’t do it often as he prefers to use his speed primarily to create angles for both offense and defense.

Huge Advantage goes to Pacquiao

Strength

Pacman is a physical specimen but the bigger man is expected to be the more physically imposing and stronger. Margarito has been fighting comfortably at welterweight for more than ten years and he is also known as one of the strongest brawlers of the division. Pacquiao started at 106 lb. He may reach his limit against Margarito.

Advantage goes to Margarito

Stamina and Workrate

Margarito is capable of throwing hard punches all night. He punches in volume and you can expect activity from him up until the final bell. Margarito’s work rate may trump Pacquiao a bit in terms of number of punches thrown but the Filipino’s pace is frenetic and overwhelming. He can also maintain that kind of activity for more than 12 rounds.

Slight Advantage goes to Pacquiao

Chin

The Mexican is popular because of his granite chin. However, he has a tendency to rely on it too much which proved costly against the more accurate Mosley. It will be hard to knock him out with one punch but he can be put down with an accumulation of good hits. He had survived solid punches against huge welterweights and light-middleweights. Pacquiao has also proven that his chin can take huge blows but the Mexican has a superior “chin resume”.

Advantage goes to Margarito

Skill

Pacquiao is the better boxer, counterpuncher, and tactician. People often overlook his ring smarts because of his very energetic style of fighting but he is very capable of dictating where the fight should go.

Huge Advantage goes to Pacquiao

Power

Pacquiao was known for his left knockout punch coined as “The Manila Ice”. When he went up in weight, it’s his speed and volume punching that made him formidable. Yet, he exhibited his power one more time against Hatton by knocking the Briton out cold. Margarito can also punch but not as explosive as Pacquiao.

Slight Advantage goes to Pacquiao

Experience

Pacquiao has more fights under his belt and he has gone against pound-for-pound caliber fighters more times than Margarito.

Advantage goes to Pacquiao

Corner

Under the tutelage of Freddie Roach, Pacquiao has been winning fights in dominating fashion. Margarito is coached by an excellent trainer, Robert Garcia, but Pacquiao has Roach for crying out loud.

Huge Advantage goes to Pacquiao

Styles

Fighters can adapt new strategies and fighting style but based purely on their preferred style and comfort zones, Margarito’s forward attacking approach will play perfectly into Pacquiao’s skill set.

Advantage goes to Pacquiao

Intangibles

Margarito is hungry and seeking redemption. Pacquiao has actually nothing left to prove and his new career as a legislator may distract him. However, the world title in a new weight division is good enough motivation for the Pacman.

Slight Advantage goes to Margarito

Who’s your bet?

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Jon Jones breaks down Ryan Bader

2010-10-06T17:24:00.005+08:00

Jon Jones’ rise in the UFC is well known. He ends fights impressively. With his combination of powerful wrestling and unorthodox striking, he is exciting to watch. After his destruction of solid fighters like Brandon Vera and Vladimir Matyushenko, he feels that he is ready for the big time. He expressed that he wanted better fighters, particularly fighters that belong in the top five of the light-heavyweight pool. Regardless of his desires, Jones already expected that his next opponent was the winner of the Ryan Bader-Antônio Rogério Nogueira match.

Jones is serious about his craft and he acknowledges that he has to know every bit of his opponent to come out on top. Thus before the fight between the two light-heavyweights actually happened, Jones had already done some note-taking about the two fighters.

"I was studying Bader and Nogueira, but now that I know it's Bader, I'm watching all his fights, all his interviews – I'm obsessed with the guy," Jones said. "It's a great feeling."

Jones recognizes the physical gifts of Bader and his wrestling abilities but he could not help but express his dismay with Bader’s performance against Nogueira. He now believes that he had overestimated the Arizonian’s wrestling skills.

"I thought Bader was exposed," Jones said of the TUF 8 finale winner. "At first, Bader had me as a believer in his double-legs. I thought, with his strength and his power, he could double-leg anyone. But Nogueira exposed him in the wrestling department… big time. That was interesting to see."

Like Jones, Bader possesses explosive wrestling power but Jones feels that Bader’s weak cardio gets in the way as fights progress. Jones knows that he cannot throw Bader around like a ragdoll the same way he did against his past opponents. The three-time PAC 10 Champion, and two-time Division One All-American, is just too physically strong for that to happen. Nevertheless he is eager to capitalize on Bader’s weaknesses in the cardio department.

Regarding Bader’s stamina, Jones had this to say:

"I think he gassed out and I think he has been gassing out in his last few fights. With his strength, may come a lack of cardio; where he has the physical power, I think genetics doesn't allow him to be able to go a vicious fifteen minutes like he needs to, especially when someone really puts the heat on him."

Jones also expressed his disappointment in fighting someone with same style of his past opponents.

"I think Bader's a great fighter,” Jones said. "I guess the only disappointment was that I'm fighting guys with the same style, and that's wrestling/boxing."

In another interview he said,

"I'm actually really sick of fighting this type of style. Matt Hamill, Matyushenko, Jake O'Brien, they all have that similar kind of style. Their main focus is that double leg dive and sub-par boxing."

Jones may sound more arrogant than his usual mild-mannered self but he just wants diversity in his next fights.

"I'm ready to fight some strikers, I'm ready to fight some south paws, I'm ready to really mix it up," he said.

Still, Jones will not leave anything to chance. He wants to get to know Bader as if he was his coach or trainer. He wants to learn all of his habits and tendencies up to the smallest detail.

"I want to know what punch he throws the most," he said. "What makes him want to shoot his double-leg, where is his mental security blanket in the Octagon. You know, where does he like to shoot? Does he like to shoot in the middle of the cage or against the cage?"

Jones may feel disappointed but it is obvious that he still respects Bader's capabilities.

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UFC Middleweight Picture: The Good, the Bad, and the Possibilities

2010-10-05T23:23:00.005+08:00

The Bad: Chael Sonnen’s abrupt rise and fall

Chael Sonnen, the underdog in UFC 117, gave Anderson Silva a beatdown he has never encountered before. Sonnen frustrated Silva with his wrestling for four and a half rounds but got caught by the champion’s miracle triangle choke in the last round.

Despite Sonnen’s loss, some UFC fans were quite contented to realize that Silva, the man who dominated the middleweight division for three years, is beatable. Sonnen, as a fighter, instantly became a hot item. Fans could already imagine him wearing the middleweight belt.

Immediately after the fight, talks of rematch resounded. It was even verbally confirmed by UFC president Dana White that a second fight between the two cage fighters would be arranged sooner than many had expected.

MMA fans were pumped for the rematch, but it all crumbled down when Chael Sonnen tested positive for natural steroid use. The repercussions of that result were very bad for the organization’s money-making potential and reputation. The rematch would have been a tremendous seller.

The Good: Silva versus Belfort

But there is an upside to Sonnen’s discredit. Vitor Belfort will now get his wish sooner, and that is to fight for the middleweight belt. If the Silva-Sonnen rematch pushed through, it would have sidelined Belfort for several more months.

For some, the Belfort versus Silva is a dream match-up, but it is uncertain if Vitor is able to deliver a challenge to Silva the way Sonnen did. Steroids or no steroids, Sonnen made it clear that Silva has problems dealing with tough wrestlers with very good take-down skills and top control.

Belfort is a stand-up fighter and a good one. He was great in the old days of UFC and PRIDE FC. He displayed awesome hand speed and power. In recent fights, he showed that his stand-up prowess never left him. In his last two fights, he knocked out Matt Lindland and Rich Franklin inside round one.

But Belfort has never fought a fighter of Anderson Silva’s striking caliber, and the latter has never been outclassed in stand-up. Silva may have shown a chink in his armor against wrestlers, but Belfort has never been considered a wrestler. So you cannot expect Vitor to follow Sonnen’s strategy.

The fight between these two Brazilians is expected to be a stand-up affair, which will be worth watching, as it's hard to imagine a fighter that’s willing to engage Anderson Silva in a striking match.

Belfort might be the guy that can make Silva think twice, cause him to be a little more tentative with his striking. Then again, Belfort may end up like the ones that preceded him—unconscious and regretful. On the other hand, Belfort may blitz Silva, since the former’s innate speed and power may surprise the middleweight kingpin.

Possible Outcomes

A win by Belfort would be great for the organization, because it would present a lot of new possibilities in the middleweight division. It can be said that the dominance of Silva had a negative effect to the UFC; his antics inside the octagon, his air of arrogance, and the language deficiency have not helped his case.

Everyone acknowledges and respects Silva’s skills, but people want to see him fight a hard fight like the one he did against Sonnen. People are now tired of seeing him dominate on a whim, they want to see him give his all and not coast or joke around in fights. However it cannot be blamed if Silva tends to behave that way. Lack of competition can make you go loco.

The worst thing that can happen is Belfort being awfully outclassed by Silva and Silva acting like a jerk once again. For the sake of MMA fans and the UFC, Belfort should be competitive against the champion; anything less than that is a blow to the organization.

Sonnen, on the other hand, is facing a long suspension and that rematch may never happen. If Silva easily disposes Belfort, we may see him vacate his middleweight title for a light-heavyweight campaign.

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UFC 118: Penn vs Edgar 2 preview

2010-08-28T07:26:00.004+08:00

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is set for another great fight card when it presents “UFC 118: Penn vs Edgar 2” on 28 August at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The much anticipated rematch between Frankie Edgar and BJ Penn for the UFC lightweight championship will top the event. It will also feature the UFC debut of former boxing champion, James Toney, when he goes up against UFC hall-of-famer, Randy Couture.

Main Event: Penn versus Edgar

The main event will be the rematch between lightweight champion, Frankie “The Answer” Edgar, and BJ “The Prodigy” Penn. Edgar proved that BJ Penn, once tagged as unbeatable in the lightweight division, is only human when Edgar defeated Penn via unanimous decision in their first meeting. Some might argue that the fight was won by the Prodigy but the judges thought otherwise. Due to the controversy, UFC President Dana White opted for a rematch.

Penn, known for his great Jiu-Jitsu skills, is likely to have the advantage on the ground. Standing up, Penn is evenly dangerous. He is technically sound, accurate, and hits very hard. Freddie Roach, one of the best boxing coaches, even said that he has the best boxing skills in the UFC.

Frankie Edgar is a very tough fighter. He possesses great wrestling skills and is also highly technical in boxing. Again, he must use the conditioning, speed, and footwork he displayed in the first bout if he wants to remain as the champion.

Knocking out Edgar is no easy task and Penn can attest to that. His movement and innate toughness are difficult things to contend with. The Answer has never been knocked out in his career.

A win for Penn will prove that he is the best lightweight in the world. On the other hand, Frankie Edgar’s win will prove that the first fight was not a fluke and put his name among the elites of the sport.

Co-main Event: Couture versus Toney

Dubbed as “Boxing versus MMA”, former two-division boxing champion, James “Lights Out” Toney, will be up against UFC hall-of-famer, Randy “The Natural” Couture.

James Toney is the first elite boxer to make a transition into the MMA. He had been trash-talking and promised to knockout Couture. He’s been training for only nine months to improve his takedown defense and ground game. Toney will obviously try to make this a standup fight in order to have the best chance of winning the bout.

Randy Couture on the other hand is a living legend in the UFC. Standing up, his clinching and dirty boxing skills will be put to test against Toney. On the ground, he will dominate the boxer with his ground-and-pound.

UFC president, Dana White, had always bragged that MMA fighters are the best fighters in the world. Couture will prove it right while Toney will showcase his craft and give these MMA fighters a run for their money.

Florian versus Maynard

Another bout is between Gray Maynard and Kenny Florian. This fight is crucial for both fighters since the winner will possibly get a title shot at the lightweight division.

With wins against Frankie Edgar, Roger Huerta and Nate Diaz, the undefeated Maynard is one of the best lightweight fighters in the UFC. Nicknamed “The Bully”, Maynard is good in breaking opponents down will with his excellent ground-and-pound skills and good stand-up game.

“KenFlo” is a well-rounded talented fighter. He is known for his devastating elbow strikes, boxing, and good ground skills. Florian will come to this fight confident and inspired because he will be fighting in his backyard. Fans will certainly root for the hometown kid.

Davis versus Diaz

Marcus “The Irish Hand Grenade” Davis, a lethal stand up fighter, will face off against the Jiu-Jitsu practitioner Nate Diaz. Davis will prove that he still has what it takes to be a contender in the welterweight division by defeating Diaz in his official debut as a welterweight.

Both fighters are known for their offense, so fans will expect fireworks in this fight.

Maia versus Miranda

Demian Maia will try to bounce back when he faces off against middleweight prospect Mario Miranda.

Other Preliminary Fights:

Joe Lauzon vs. Gabe Ruediger

Nick Lintz vs. Andre Winner

Dan Miller vs. John Salter

Nick Osipczak vs. Greg Soto

Amilcar Alves vs. Mike Pierce

My picks:

Penn, Couture, Maynard, Diaz, Maia, Lauzon, and Miller

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Six Reasons Why Rampage can’t become a UFC Champion again

2010-05-30T17:04:00.012+08:00

Before any of you Quinton “Rampage” Jackson fanatics out there come bashing this post, hear me out. Let me put it out there and say that I am a true Rampage fan and I have been following him since his Pride days. I find him to be not only an amazing fighter but also one hell of a personality. His wit and humor, along with his caveman strength and KO power, have made him a fighter you cannot easily forget.

He is popular and he can bang with the best fighters MMA has to offer, there is no doubt about that. However, I am also a follower of the evolving sport and, as an analyst, I must be realistic and go against my fanaticism of Jackson and say that he can’t become a UFC champion again.

MMA, particularly UFC, has evolved so fast and so much that Rampage’s style has simply become ineffective. Well, he can still win high profile fights in a different format of MMA fighting but inside the UFC cage, his chance of getting that belt is slim.

1. Too Much KO Mentality

Sad to say, Jackson has become a one-dimensional fighter. Even with his wrestling skills and credentials, he has turned into a fighter with only a single intent in his mind and that is to knock his opponents out. People pay to watch his fights because they want to see his bombs explode on his opponent’s faces. Each time he fights, Rampage fans are often left hoping that he lands that one punch. Unfortunately, it is not that easy anymore. Fighters with half a brain will not just stand there in front of Jackson.

2. No Surprises

The more you see Rampage fights, the more obvious it gets. Rampage’s octagon demise is a set blueprint and it’s just a matter of execution on the fighter’s part. Elite level fighters are highly skilled and disciplined. If they can just execute and stick to the gameplan, they can and will win against Rampage.

3. Lack in Speed and Footwork

I hate to admit it, with all his power, Rampage is just too slow. He is enormously effective in the pocket but he is incapable of getting in that pocket unless his opponents allow it. He’ll never beat speedy in-and-out fighters. With his slow footwork, speed is his main enemy. On his own, he is incapable of bridging that distance to hit his opponents with his money shots.

4. The Octagon Disadvantage

The octagon is just too wide and too round for Jackson’s style. Opponents can easily evade and dance around the cage. Fighters are difficult to cut-off and corner as they can just laterally move away from the cage and get in better spots. Put Rampage in a smaller boxing ring and he is more likely to decapitate you but in the UFC, that is obviously not the case.

5. Inability to Win Rounds

Rampage does not know how to win points. This is in conjunction to his KO mentality. He is just there to bang and not win rounds. This is one reason why fans love his fights. With Rampage, half of the element of a sensational fight is already there. But it is also a big hole in his game because, I repeat, a smart fighter will not push his luck and go toe-to-toe against Rampage. Jackson is just too skilled inside the pocket. Remember what happened to Chuck and Wanderlei? Against Rampage, all you need to do is outpoint him.

6. Limited Cardio and Discipline

It is no surprise, Rampage is known for his not-so-excellent cardio and training/conditioning discipline. You can outcardio him that’s why Rampage tends to fight slow and rather passive. He paces himself too much because he knows deep inside that his gas tank is limited. He is incapable of too much activity and perhaps why he relies too much on the KO.

Analyst’s Perspective

The way I see it, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson can still win fights but not a chance against the likes of Machida, Rua, Anderson Silva, and yes even Evans on a rematch. I also don’t see him evolving well beyond his style. He is just what he is.

In Rampage’s last fight against Rashad, it is clear that Rashad was not willing to risk and exchange with Rampage even after Rashad just stunned him with the first punch. Evans stayed true to his gameplan and effectively won using his rather boring strategy. The fight just reinforced my analysis of Jackson.

It’s a good thing that I did not bet on Rampage like I usually do.

Fan’s Perspective

Although I won’t always bet my money on Jackson, I often find myself rooting for him to win. I don’t mind being proved wrong with a Rampage win over an elite fighter.

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Can Mosley Win Against Mayweather?

2010-04-04T21:24:00.020+08:00

The Pacquiao-Clottey fight disappointed a lot of boxing fans. The much hyped fight hailed as “The Event” became more of a Pacman exhibition match. Joshua Clottey’s lack of guts to take risks and open up made the main event of “The Event” uneventful.

On the other side of the fence, we have Mayweather versus Mosley. Unlike Clottey, Mosley will certainly come to fight. In fact, Sugar Shane will almost certainly come as the aggressor and will not shy away with his punches. This time around, it will be Mayweather doing all the blocking and defending.

However, Mayweather is no Clottey. Floyd will always look for the counter and holes. He will sting you with his jab and time you with his right. Ever since, he has been the master of pot shots and always seem to figure out the rhythm of his opponent’s war dance.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. is a defensive wizard. He will not only block and catch punches. He will avoid, slip, slide, and roll with the attacks. He will get you off-balanced and capitalize on every mistake and openings. There will be no surprise to what Mayweather will do in the ring, and Shane is ready for Floyd’s bag of tricks.

Come fight night, Shane Mosley will come as the underdog and Floyd as the heavy favorite. Money May is the younger athlete and the undefeated boxer, while Sugar Shane is the aging fighter with hit-and-miss performances based on his recent fights.

So how can anyone make a case for Sugar Shane Mosley in this upcoming welterweight match?

Firstly, Mosley is a true welterweight. He is tough as nails, punches with power and moves with considerable speed. It can be said that Shane’s skills has diminished and his gas tank is questionable but Mayweather has never fought a welterweight match against a true welterweight of Mosley’s caliber.

Shane Mosley is also as clever as a boxer can ever get, something that may have been instinctive and sharpened only by experience. He has fought tremendous competition against pound for pound caliber opponents at their peaks and optimum weight classes, something that Mayweather has not established yet.

Shane will not lose focus like Judah; he will maintain composure and controlled aggression. His technical skills are also light years ahead of Hatton and he is certainly tougher, capable of taking hard shots. He is a skillful boxer and an excellent brawler. Mosley is also among of the speed demons in boxing – handspeed, footspeed, movement, and reflexes. Mayweather has never fought someone more well-rounded than Mosley.

Floyd allegedly avoided the then welterweight standouts, Cotto and Margarito. Both of these fighters had been in the ring against Mosley and they’re never easy opponents. They actually belong to the top of welterweight food chain. Shane lost a decision against Cotto and knocked out the reputed granite-chinned Margarito. It is an indication that Mosley can still hang in there with the prominent welterweights.

This match is not a “gimme” for Mayweather. The old man in Sugar Shane Mosley can win this one.

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Team Pacquiao Members

2010-03-17T23:50:00.016+08:00

As many of you may have already known, Pacquiao is often surrounded with quite a number of people. His entourage is considerably large in numbers, and yes, even in boxing standards. This chosen crowd is dubbed as the Team Pacquiao but most of them are merely there for the champ’s longing for companionship and only a few of them have functional purposes.

In case you are wondering about the essential who’s who in Team Pacquiao, this list will certainly shed light on Team Pacquiao’s active (which means purposeful) members.

Freddie Roach

The best way to start the list of Team Pacquiao members is with, no other than, the head honcho himself, Freddie Roach.

This three-time trainer of the year is also a former boxer with a 39-13 fight record. It is very difficult to think about Manny Pacquiao without associating him to Coach Freddie Roach. It can be said that one has made the other. With Freddie Roach’s strategizing genius and Pacquiao’s pugilistic giftedness and workmanship, they had become a tremendous force in this era of modern boxing.

Alex Ariza

Ariza is Team Pacquiao’s strength and conditioning guru. Aside from the Pacman’s talent and work ethic, majority of the credit should be given to Ariza for making Pacquiao carry his speed, power, and cardio along with him to the higher weights.

The natural tendency of fighters getting up to higher weight classes is to lose speed but not getting enough power. Most boxers would typically rely on smarts and technique. However, in this case, Ariza has even made the Pacman more of a monster than he already was. The footspeed of Pacquiao has become more fluid and the handspeed has even become more overwhelming. Clottey can attest to that. And when you want to know about knockout power, just ask Hatton.

Alex Ariza had an altercation with another Team Pacquiao member and his name is…

Michael Koncz

There is much mystery and animosity when you talk about this guy. Rumors have been flying that he was in Team Pacquiao under Bob Arum’s orders. Koncz is allegedly the eyes of the promoter in the camp. However, nobody really knows for sure aside maybe from Manny Pacquiao. Majority of Team Pacquiao’s members do not really like Koncz because, well, how can I say this… he’s an asshole.

Alex Ariza once clocked Koncz with a five-punch combo because the latter insisted on replacing Ariza to work on Pacquiao’s corner in the Cotto fight. Roach has even said that Koncz is just an “errand boy” of Manny. But one thing’s for sure, Pacquiao is keeping him for a reason. In fairness to this Team Pacquiao black sheep, he arranges the champ’s programs (e.g. press events, reservations, etc.) and often handles things for Pacquiao’s convenience.

Many would say that he’s a leech but I see him better as the Pacman’s bitch.

Restituto “Buboy” Fernandez

Buboy is that porky dude in Pacquiao’s corner giving the champ very enthusiastic instructions in Filipino language. He is Roach’s coaching translator and assistant. However, Buboy Fernandez is more than that… he is one of the Pacman’s trusted friend and confidant.

Unlike Koncz, Fernandez is genuinely there for the champ’s best interests. Disregarding Freddie Roach, if Team Pacquiao is to become a two-man team, then, it would compose of Buboy and Manny. They have gone a long, long way back. Buboy was Manny Pacquiao’s boxing partner in the old days and now, he is the number two man in the Pacman’s coaching staff. He is also the official caregiver of Pacquiao. Manny had said in a dozen of interviews that he is not what he is right now without his chubby friend.

Nonoy Neri

Pacman’s personal chef. Nonoy Neri specializes on healthy Filipino dishes for the Team Pacquiao to feast upon. He may also handle minor trainer duties.

Alex Oreto

This man is the official “errand boy” of Pacquiao. He washes the dishes, does laundry, and buys the toiletries. He is the all-around “alalay”.

Rob Peters

Peters is Team Pacquiao’s head of security. He keeps the team, especially Manny, safe from harm.

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How to Throw a Knockout Punch

2010-02-19T23:02:00.030+08:00

A knockout punch can end all contests decisively. It can finish fights without dispute and can save your life in grave circumstances. A fighting sports athlete needs it when he is awfully down on points; an up and comer wants to have a lot of wins through knockouts to boost confidence and create an intimidating image. Some people just want that knockout punch to end things in their favor and end things fast. True, the knockout punch is a tool that every fighter should have in their repertoire. It can be used as intimidation and insurance.

But before we get into the details on what makes a knockout punch, we must first understand the anatomy of the knockout.

What is a Knockout? How does it happen?

Ok, I am not a scientist or some medical guy but I know a lot about this phenomenon called the knockout. Through research, experimentation and painful experience, I have gained enough knockout knowledge and will express it here in very simple terms.

A knockout is something that occurs after a physical blow which renders a person on the receiving end immobilized or disoriented. Although not necessary, a knockout often implies unconsciousness. Therefore, any kind of hit to any part of a body that stops an opponent from doing functional movements for a relative amount of time is considered as a knockout. A body punch can knock the wind out of you; a roundhouse kick to the face can make you see stars.

However, this article will specifically talk about the knockout punch and to be more exact, a knockout punch to the head. When your head is hit with a punch, the brain floating in your skull absorbs the impact. The more powerful, unexpected, and accurate the punch… the more devastating the knockout will become.

Back to the brain… This floating organ in our head is like a rodeo cowboy and goes with flow whichever direction our head goes. A sudden powerful hit will jerk your head so violently that the floating brain will bounce around in the skull hitting the bony walls. This is what you call trauma and it will make the nerves all over your body go in an electrical haywire. In effect, your body will go limp or may sometimes do uncontrollable jerky movements and in many cases, you will be out only to wake up with a mammoth headache.

How to execute a Knockout Punch

The knockout punch requires three elements – Power, Accuracy, and Surprise. These three can actually overlap each other as you can knockout punch someone with raw power alone even when you did not hit the opponent on the “button”. The same goes with accuracy; you can hit someone with less power but can still produce a knockout if you land accurately on the sweet spot. You can also knockout an opponent when you caught him completely surprised.

Power

This element is vital and when you can deliver lots of it, you are a fearsome creature inside and outside of the ring. Fighters with innate power to deliver knockout punches have what they call the “puncher’s chance”. They are capable of winning fights even when dominated because once they catch you with a clean shot at any point, you’ll get knocked out cold.

Some fighters are naturally vicious punchers and some aren’t. However, it doesn’t mean that you can’t improve it. The power of the knockout punch comes from the push and pivot of the feet, linking through the twist of the torso, to turn of the shoulder, and ends with the contribution of the arm muscles. It is the coordination of the whole body that gives power to the punch. Body mass do count due to the momentum. But if you do not have the coordination, you cannot effectively pull off a knockout punch.

This is why we have weight classes in fighting sports, simply because a 200 pound guy with proper punching mechanics will produce more bone-crunching power than a fundamentally sound 130 pounder. Lower weights normally means less power but does not necessarily imply less knockouts because lighter fighters make it up with accuracy which leads us to our next point.

Accuracy

The “button”, “off-switch”, and “sweet spot” are terms given to the areas of the head that are very vulnerable for the knockout. If you are accurate in your punches and able to cleanly hit these spots, you can make your opponent take a premature nap. These so-called sweet spots are the chin, jaw, and the temple. A punch to the chin and jaw has more leverage therefore the head repositions more forcefully. A hit on the temple, on the other hand, disturbs your equilibrium.

The element of surprise is usually the main cause of sensational knockouts. A deceptive fighter capable of throwing punches at angles that cannot be seen is more likely to dish out potential knockout punches mainly because the opponent is not prepared to tense his neck and jaw muscles fast enough to receive the punch. The result is more violent snapping on the head, more brain trauma, and an express trip dreamland.

Now, if you are able to combine all the elements in a single knockout punch… that is something I’ve got to see!

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Joshua Clottey: Fighter Analysis

2010-02-10T15:03:00.033+08:00

The welterweight standout, Joshua Clottey, is just one of

Ghana

’sprominent boxing figures of today. Just like his fellow boxer and countryman,Ike “Bazooka” Quartey, Clottey seems to have the essential tools to become thetop dog in the sport of boxing, yet, still falls short by losing to qualityopponents rather non-convincingly.

Fortunately for Joshua Clottey, he still hasplenty of fights left in him and he will have the biggest chance of his life tosurpass Quartey’s underachievement by beating the pound for pound kingpin MannyPacquiao.

Let’s take a closer look at the Ghanaian fighter they call “Grandmaster”.

Toughness and Defense

Saying that Joshua Clottey is tough-as-nails is anunderstatement. Whatever

Ghana

is doing with its fighters, they sure make them durable and resilient. JoshuaClottey indeed looks menacing and very physical. His durability and knack towork through pain has become a Joshua Clottey signature.

Having a good chin, he was never in trouble of getting KOedand had been knocked down only once courtesy of Miguel Cotto’s counter stiffjab. It was more of a balance/flash knockdown. Joshua Clottey was never out ofit.

In his match against the proven cheater Margarito, JoshuaClottey battled through the whole fight with an injured hand which happened inthe fourth round. It would be fair to assume that Margarito was fighting withloaded wraps that time and it might be the reason why Joshua Clottey injuredhis hand as his defensive style is blocking and absorbing punches with his armsand hands. Nevertheless, Joshua Clotteyfight through the hurt, but his punches after the 4^th round were notas murderous. The Ghanaian lost by decision but was never in trouble.

Joshua Clottey has a great defense. He uses the peek-a-boodefense well as he prefers to absorb punishing blows with his forearms andgloves. He certainly has the aptitude and toughness to deal with it. Clottey’sstyle of defense is very reminiscent of Quartey and Wright. The covering andblocking technique of Joshua Clottey is apparently too difficult for others to penetrate.If he does get hit, Clottey’s jaw is another thing to contend with.

Bodyshots are either received willingly by Clottey’s granitebody or blocked by his elbows. Somehow, Joshua Clottey welcomes body attacks sohe can counter off that.

Offensive Technique

Just like his defense, Joshua Clottey’s offense is also fundamentallysound. He is not flashy and does not waste energy with unnecessary movementsand normally picks his shots.

At first glance, the Ghanaian depicts a typical pressurefighter as he’s always in your face pressing forward. But he is actually more (or less) than thatdue to the fact that he can box with great accuracy and counter effectively. Heis less of a pressure fighter because he tends to be inactive with his offenseand seems to just stand in front of the opponent taking punishment. Quitebaffling but the most likely reason is he’s resting, regaining composure, or justplaying possum. Whatever his reasons are, it surely didn’t help him in theCotto fight. Many have said that if only Clottey got a bit busier and addedmore volume to his punches, he could have won the fight.

Nevertheless, Joshua Clottey has superb boxing abilities. Hecan play the boxing game surprisingly well. His jabs and straights are fast andcrisp. He doesn’t telegraph his punches as all straight punches are thrown fromhis defensive stance without any extra wind-up movements. He has the ability tobeat you to the punch because he is so quick to snap those jabs and straights.Joshua Clottey is also a good counter puncher. He heavily favors countering offthe blocks and misses or merely stop-hit you to death with straight shots. Hisjabs, though not as excellent as that of Quartey’s, is still effective whenused consistently.

JoshuaClottey has decent footwork but definitely not very fast with his feetparticularly in lateral movements. If there’s one good thing about hisfootwork, it would be his forward rush to hit your with his shots, usually aone-two. Joshua Clottey prefers to fight straight up and coming forward. If notthat, he may coax you in an in-fighting game. Basically, these are the two distancesthat Clottey prefers – the mid range and the in-fighting range.

As anin-fighter, Joshua Clottey has potent and accurate hooks and uppercuts. Clotteyworks the body with powerful left hooks and snaps your head back withuppercuts. He likes to put them in combination as well and may sometimessurprise you with combos like the one-two or one-one-two which is quick andvery effective. His hand speed is excellent and underrated. Unfortunately, he usesit less often than needed.

Crafty Foul Tactician

Joshua Clottey is not nicknamed “The Grandmaster” for noreason. He is crafty inside the ring and this craftiness includes dirtytactics. Clottey is your typical dirty fighter and it seems instinctive on hispart. His preferred illegal move is the headbutt as he often leads with hishead and will use it in retaliation or desperation. He was in fact disqualifiedagainst Baldomir due to his headbutting habits. It was a fight that hedominated but unfortunately lost.

He can be sneaky with his headbutts; he used it againstMargarito and Cotto. Cotto suffered a deep cut because of it but was ruled as accidental.

Clottey’s Problems

Joshua Clottey has the tools to become a dominating championbut he has inconsistencies and habits that cost him some of his big fights andwill continue to take its toll if he doesn’t change. Clottey is a well-roundedfighter but he doesn’t fully commit to any specific style, even if it meanswinning.

Clottey is a very good boxer, quick hands and soundexecution of punches with good power as well. Yet, he doesn’t have the lateral quickness and head movement to become afull-pledge boxer. He is a good counter puncher but to be great atcounterpunching, you need to have evasion skills and counter from it. Clotteyis so good in his signature block-and-counter style but it is just not goodenough for me as a counterfighting style.

Most notably, Joshua Clottey has an excellent pressurefighting style but he is inconsistent with it. He slacks off in differentmoments of the fight -- ceasing to attack, just standing there clamming up totake shots. That is not pressure fighting. That is why a lot of people questionhis stamina. I am not sure, but it could be his attitude. Double the work rateand add just a bit of his consistency in his pressure, Joshua Clottey willbecome more of a monster than he was in his past fights.

Joshua Clottey is full of ironies. You can say that he lacksthe fortitude because he can’t steady his pressure and work rate but you candefinitely say that he has the heart of a true warrior by slugging it out withMargarito even with a broken hand. Joshua Clottey is like Forrest Gump’s box ofchocolates…. “You never know what you’re gonna get.”

Full Arsenal, JustNeed to Use it Well

Joshua Clottey is a well-rounded fighter but I cannot callhim a complete fighter just yet. He is skilled as he is tough but there’ssomething lacking. Still, I won’t be surprised to see him step up, improve, andcomplete his game. He will need to reach that level, which I think he’s verycapable of doing, in order to beat Manny Pacquiao in Dallas.

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How to do a Roundhouse Kick

2010-01-31T01:06:00.027+08:00

The Roundhouse Kick. No, it is not as fancy as it may sound but it’s one hell of an offensive weapon in fighting.

There are lots of Chuck Norris Roundhouse Kick jokes going around especially on the web and many would get a kick out it (pun intended). Yet, I am pretty sure many think of the roundhouse kick as a fancy type of spinning kick. Surprisingly, even people who have been following martial arts and MMA matches would still confuse a roundhouse kick with something else.

Let’s get everything straight, talk all about the roundhouse kick and how it’s done.

A roundhouse kick is typically a momentum kick in which the leg is swung in a curved motion along with the rotation of the hips and torso. The balls of the non-kicking foot can also pivot towards the direction of the roundhouse kick for balance and additional momentum.

The commonly accepted striking surface is the shin or the instep. Traditionally in Karate, the balls of the kicking foot of the roundhouse kick is the most favored striking point because it was deemed more destructive. However, the risk of injury to the foot is also higher. As time went by, the instep and shin became the preferred striking surface. But this is not to say that using the balls of the foot is ineffective. With tremendous conditioning, a roundhouse kick using the balls of the foot is indeed immobilizing.

The roundhouse kick can be performed in different ways. It can be forceful and with lots of momentum as the ones used in Muay Thai and Karate. On the other hand, the Taekwondo roundhouse kick is fast and significantly quicker in delivery. The roundhouse kick can either be done with the lead leg or the rear leg, the latter being the more forceful. Nevertheless, a clean hit from a roundhouse kick can dish out a lot of pain due to the natural strength of the leg and hardness of the shin, instep, or foot.

The height of the roundhouse kick can be low (leg kick), middle (45 degree kick), or high (head roundhouse kick). All can be devastating which is capable of breaking ribs and producing sensational knockouts even when blocked.

The roundhouse kick is a staple weapon in striking martial arts. In Muay Thai, Kickboxing, and MMA, the roundhouse kick have made sensational knockouts that can make your jaw drop in awe. As a point fighting sport, the taekwondo roundhouse kick is often seen performed in many ways – e.g. jumping, spinning, tornado kicks, and so on. The sport requires the kick to be much quicker and more devious.

Other names of the Roundhouse Kick:

Hook Kick (Jeet Kune Do)
Mawashi Geri (Karate)
Angle Kick (Muay Thai)
Rising Kick (Muay Thai Head Roundhouse Kick)
fouetté (Savate)
Round Kick
Fast Kick (Taekwondo Lead Leg Kick)

Fighters known for their destructive roundhouse kick:

Peter Aerts
Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipović
Buakaw Por. Pramuk
Thiago Alves
Jean Claude Van Damme (Sorry, can't help it)

Video Instructions:

Kickboxing / Muay Thai Roundhouse Kick

KungFu Roundhouse Kick

Taekwondo Roundhouse Kick

Karate Roundhouse Kick

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KIMBO STREET FIGHT: In different perspectives

2010-01-18T11:48:00.026+08:00

Are you one of those people who scour the web looking for fights? No, I don’t mean someone who picks fights in forums or comment spaces, not that kind of keyboard warrior but the type who searches YouTube for a Kimbo Street Fight, MMA matches, or compilations of knockouts and fight highlights.

If that’s your thing, you are what I call a fight fan. You have the thirst for primal human action and also have the acumen for fight science. Discrimination is not in your vocabulary eventhough you may favor one type of martial art or prefer a particular fighting sport. You enjoy watching and understanding fights. Whether it’s MMA, Boxing, Karate point fighting, Muay Thai, backyard brawl, or a Kimbo Street fight – your interest is genuine and profound.

There are different kinds of fight fans. Here’s a short list:

The True Warrior

True warriors are the type who lives and breathes fights. They are either actively involve in fighting sports or devoted martial artists. They have strong opinions on how a fighter should carry himself but are often naturally humble to keep a low profile. However, these types have a deep desire to test their skills and most of them think that they can win a Kimbo street fight but they are not in it for fame or recognition. Instead, they just want to affirm their capabilities as a warrior.

The Analyst

Analysts could be trained or untrained. Nevertheless, they have keen eyes and very opinionated about the “styles make fights” philosophy. When they watch fights, they view it in a very logical and analytical way. They often know who can beat who and sometimes it can be annoying as they tend to be arrogant. Like it or not, the analysts are often right.

The analyst is very knowledgeable and can be good a coach. In their eyes, a Kimbo street fight is very amateurish. They frown on the inferior skill and execution on display yet may find satisfaction because, in their minds, they exactly know the techniques that can give Kimbo a beatdown.

The Bloodthirsty Fight Fan

This type of fight fan just wants to see bone-crunching action and is always interested who will shed first blood. The bloodthirsty fight fan salivates on knockouts and almost feels the impact of that left hook on the jaw or the roundhouse kick on the temple. He is not particular with the techniques as he’d rather hope for a brawl and that someone may drop unconscious.

A Kimbo street fight is a spectacle to behold for this fight fan. He may swear in every Kimbo punch and puts every Kimbo street fight video on his YouTube favorite list. Amazingly, a bloodthirsty fight fan will also take pleasure in Kimbo losing – as long as it is a KO!

In case you have been hiding under a rock, here is a sample of a Kimbo Street Fight.

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Floyd Mayweather Jr. : Afraid of Pacquiao?

2009-09-23T14:04:00.026+08:00

Once again, Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. has proven his slickness not only inside the ring but also outside of it as well.

What did Mayweather accomplish last Saturday? Well for starters, he did what he was supposed to do and that was to beat a smaller aging fighter that he cherry-picked for his so-called comeback fight.

Sure, it was a dominating win and many might marvel at the technical brilliance of Floyd’s defensive boxing. Personally, however, I have done that a long time ago and in his last fight dubbed as, “Number One vs Numero Uno”, I expected a blowout, a knockout even.

The fight was a sham. It was an attempt to make Mayweather gain back his credibility as a pound-for-pound power player. I’ve been a fan of his technical superiority and he is indeed a great student of the fight game. He could be the best boxer that ever lived but we may never fully know because “Pretty Boy” constantly refuses to take risks and prove to the world that he is supreme.

Let’s disregard the fact that Floyd had managed to talk and squirm his way out of fighting guys his size. Paul Williams, Miguel Cotto, and even Margarito would’ve liked to take a crack at that “Philly Shell” of his.

Yes, this self-proclaimed #1 P4P fighter has managed to convince the public to exhibit his skills among lighter weights. Luckily for him, the number one and two positions were occupied by two rivals whom Floyd originally outweighed by more or less 20 pounds.

Marquez and Pacquiao could barely even reach the median of Welterweight limit without stuffing their mouths with fastfood. Mayweather, however, had fought comfortably at welterweight for more than two years. Floyd was recognized as the best pound for pound fighter when he was in welterweight while the recognized number one and two fighters of today had just jumped to lightweight only a year ago.

Floyd “Money” Mayweather may have defeated 36 year old Marquez soundly but he could not put the old Dinamita away. Aside from the second round knockdown and the methodical beatdown, Marquez is far from getting stopped; a thing that should’ve transpired given the considerable advantages Mayweather had in the fight. He could not finish a significantly smaller opponent.

Floyd, which refused to get weighed on fight night, obviously far outweighed the competition; probably, a 20 pound difference. Mayweather chose an easy fight and he made it even easier by going over the catchweight limit of 144. On the official weigh-ins, he weighed in at 146 against the Marquez’s 142, paying a measly fine of 600,000 USD in contrast to his 10 million paycheck plus PPV.

On fight night, the weight and strength difference was enormous. Marquez could not hurt Mayweather. Floyd even let Marquez throw free swings at him but seemingly, the dynamite was more like a firecracker. The 36 year old body of Marquez could not handle the weight gain. The power was just not there and the only thing that was apparent was the diminished speed of Dinamita which was exaggerated by the quickness of Mayweather.

Marquez was getting slower as he got heavier. For me, he was quite sluggish even at lightweight. Casamayor and Diaz gave Marquez something to handle. It was the ring brilliance of Marquez that won him those fights; not the power and much less the speed. It was all brains.

After those two fights, Marquez risked everything to chase greatness (and money, of course) by trying to defeat a very good boxer in Mayweather, a fighter two notches above his weight category.

In contrast, Mayweather chose a fight he deemed easy to deceptively reestablish his pound-for-pound image while earning tons of money. In a financial sense, it seemed pretty smart but he didn’t get mad props from true boxing fans. He was still avoiding the difficult fights.

On the other hand, Pacquiao had barely won the last war he had against Marquez while the first one was a draw brought about by the brilliance of the Mexican. However, it should be noted that Pacquiao fought Marquez at his optimum weight and peak condition. And I strongly believe that Pacman will knockout Marquez if they were to meet again especially at higher weights.

Pacquiao has bulked up much more effectively than Marquez has. The Filipino icon managed to retain his speed while still having tremendous power. Age is the primary factor. Boxers tend to handle weight adjustment more easily when young and Marquez’s old body just won’t metabolize well.
Manny Pacquiao’s last two fights in heavier weights were impressive. He looked fearsome; knocking out two heavier guys to retirement. One quit on his stool and the other out cold. Now, he will be fighting another natural Welterweight, the Puerto Rican superstar Miguel Cotto, which is another big risk for the Filipino.

Every time Pacman fights a heavier opponent, he is putting his reputation and consciousness at risk. And Miguel Cotto is more than capable of knocking Manny out! This made Pacquiao a big draw. He takes an even risk to reward ratio. He gambles and he surprises people by dominating. The Cotto and Pacquiao fight is another opportunity for him to wow fans. However, it can go a totally different route; he may just go down in flames.

In my opinion, Mayweather is afraid of Pacquiao. Even more, if Pacquiao disposes Cotto out of the way. The risks are real for Floyd if he elects to fight Manny. Pacquiao has a big chance of beating Mayweather. If that happens, Floyd will be beaten by a smaller man. Floyd fears that scenario.

Don’t be mistaken, Mayweather can very well dominate Pacquiao like he did to Marquez. The problem is that Floyd always plays it safe. He loves his unblemished record too much. He would rather fight Mosley. For me, the post fight exchange between him and Mosely was a ruse. It was a charade, hoping the public will divert its attention away from Mayweather vs Pacquiao. I think Mayweather will do anything to prevent the fight from happening.

Ultimately, I hope the fight will materialize. If it won’t happen after the highly probable Pacquiao win over Cotto, it may never happen because of Pacquiao’s political aspirations. Boxing fans deserve that fight and when that happens, I just hope Mayweather will make it a fair fight by making weight.

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Marquez's Quest for Greatness

2009-09-06T14:59:00.014+08:00

Will Juan Manuel Marquez defy odds and come out victorious against former pound for pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr.?

Mexico’s “dinamita” just turned 36 this August 23. For most boxers, this is already considered as a retiring age. However, for the Mexican people’s champion, age has only made him more crafty and intelligent inside the ring. His recent battles had also proven that his body can still hang with the young and the best.

Juan Manuel Marquez’s technical knockout win over Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz displayed Marquez’s resilience and ability to adjust. Early in the fight, Juan Manuel seemed to be bothered by Diaz’s in-your-face pressure fighting style.

With Diaz dictating the pace via his trademark volume punching, Marquez looked vulnerable but as the fight went to the middle rounds, Dinamita found his range and timing. Diaz, at that moment, had been clocked and measured to surgical precision. Marquez’s superb counter punching and variety of attacks was beginning to dominate the fight until a well-placed uppercut hit the “Baby Bull” right on the chin, dropping Diaz in the 9th. Juan Diaz never really recovered, urging referee Ramos to stop the fight.

Before the Diaz battle, he fought against Joel Casamayor for the Ring Magazine Lightweight belt. The welcome greeting for Marquez on his lightweight debut at that time was a big test for the Mexican dynamite. Joel Casamayor, though on the decline, is no pushover. The Cuban has never been stopped and his ring intelligence is just as good as Marquez.

Marquez, coming up in weight, was highly tentative in the opening rounds. He was clearly testing the waters, trying to find out if he could handle the power of Casamayor. And also, as the usual Marquez way, he was figuring out the range, timing, and effective counters. However, Casamayor was getting what he wanted in Rounds 1 to 3; teeing away with his punches. Marquez seemed to be hurting but that’s Dinamita for you, willing to take a bit of a punishment for precious data gathering.

Once again, Marquez proved his boxing IQ by effectively using jabs and right hand counters against the Cuban veteran, finally figuring him out. The Mexican is a ring scientist; a very methodical killer! The knockout came in the 11th round which was started by a thunderous Marquez right. Casamayor courageously stood up but only to fall again from Dinamita’s barrage of punches.

Marquez was the only person to stop the Casamayor and Diaz.

Juan Manuel Marquez’s last two fights showed that he could adjust, pace himself, and finish fights even with age and against strong opposition. He also did it coming up in weight. Before, Marquez was always considered to be a natural featherweight. Fought three times at super featherweight before venturing to lightweight; eventually knocking out two of the better lightweights of the time.

The biggest challenge for Marquez is nearing. On September 19, Marquez will try to beat the former #1 Pound for Pound, “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Can Juan Manuel Marquez make it happen?

Marquez, once again, will bulk up to the junior Welterweight limit of 140 lbs. The odds are against him, giving up in almost all aspects --- from height, reach, speed, strength. Except for one thing… Mayweather has not fought for nearly two years.

Nevertheless, Mayweather is an intelligent fighter blessed with the genuine athletic gifts of speed and explosiveness. Juan Manuel Marquez’s ability to adjust and execute will surely be stretched to the limit.

Click here for Marquez's Info, Stats, and Fight Record

Click here for Marquez Highlights

Shadowboxing: All About It

2009-07-15T14:26:00.039+08:00

Everybody likes the heavy bag. You can hit it with all your might and as much as you want and with every hit, it gives you a feeling satisfaction. Since it is made to absorb enormous amount of impact, it will develop your power.

There are speed bags, double-end bags, banana bags, kick pads, power shields… They all have a place in fight training. These equipments, when used properly, improve accuracy, speed, and power. Each gear trains a specific area in your game. Example, double-end bags will develop accuracy and timing; power shields will enhance kicking power; speed bags will build shoulder endurance. Each one provides a different objective but they all have one thing in common…. You have a tangible target. You have something to hit.

With all these equipments around, why do we still see someone punching and kicking air? Dancing around, doing defensive head movements, as if fighting an invisible opponent? The purpose of fighting is hitting the opponent, right? So, why do fighters do what they call shadowboxing?

The purpose of shadowboxing:

Almost all kinds of sports require mastery of particular physical movements. The more adept you are in executing these movements the better your chances of success. Fighting sports is no different. In fact, it is crucial because a fighter incorporates the whole body to perform even just a simple punch or kick. And there are plenty of punches and kicks to be mastered. Shadowboxing helps develop neuromuscular familiarity in executing these actions.

As a warm-up: Before any strenuous activity --- like a serious match, hard sparring, or even just hitting mitts --- fighters shadowbox lightly to warm and loosen up the muscles and joints. It prepares not just the muscles but also the nervous system. It will send signals to the brain that the body must prepare for the activity that lies ahead. When the time comes to explode, the fighter is not stiff but fluid and effortless in his movements.

To improve footwork: You must shadowbox while moving your feet. Lateral movements, moving in and out, sidestepping, and positional rotations should be drilled in shadowboxing. This will make the fighter comfortable on his toes until it becomes second nature.

To analyze the openings and motion: This is done while shadowboxing with mirrors. Usually in the gym, fighters look and study how they tend to execute their punches and kicks. They look for the openings they present in their every attack. They also study the motion of their punches and kicks. With the knowledge they acquire from these, they can fine tune their training and they will know what to expect.

To develop coordination and improve the stabilizing muscles: In a fight, you cannot hit the target all the time. Your opponents will always try to make you miss. And in every miss --- depending on the commitment to the attack --- you will get off-balanced. That brief moment of trying to regain balance and posture is more than enough time for the opponent to hit you with a KO shot.

Ideally, a fighter should go back to proper stance after every attack. The more you try to hit harder, the more momentum you generate, and the more difficult it is to go back to the neutral position. Shadowboxing is the perfect way to train the muscles to counteract the momentum you generated in your every attack. It will develop the supporting muscles involved in the retraction. It will make them alert and strong so that you will not severely get off-balanced even when you throw your power shots. Thus, it will develop your power the better way. With shadowboxing, you will have better coordination in your movements.

Take this for example: When you forcefully hit the heavy bag with the right hook then go back to neutral position, the execution is relatively easy. All the momentum you generated will be absorbed by the heavy bag thus returning to neutral position is not difficult. But doing the same thing against air will prove to be demanding. The momentum will throw your body off-balanced.

In shadowboxing, you will learn to adjust the sufficient force to be generated that will not sacrifice your positional equilibrium. Eventually, with highly developed stabilizing muscles and coordination, you can produce tremendous attacking force while maintaining balanced.

So far, this is the best reason why a fighter must complement his training with shadowboxing.

To visualize techniques: If you want to practice a particular technique, say, for example a counterattack, shadowboxing will help the fighter drill his mind and body. He will try to visualize an imaginary attack and shadowbox his counter to that. The fighter will repeatedly use this visualization training until he is comfortable with the movement. Constant shadowboxing of the technique will condition the body and the mind to react effectively to the visualized stimulus.

To improve cardio and conditioning: Simulating actual movements used in a fight will improve your stamina. The more often and intense you do shadowboxing, the further the body will naturally adapt. This conditioning of your system will develop an efficient utilization of oxygen.

For example, if you frequently shadowbox doing intense and high volume combination punching for six rounds, your system will “smarten up” and adjust to this conditioning.

Thus, in an actual 4 round match, you can fight with full intensity and high volume without getting too tired because your body will be already familiar with these movements. Your system won’t be too stressed because you do these actions all the time.

Some helpful videos about shadowboxing:

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Frank Mir: Underdog in 100

2009-07-07T13:30:00.022+08:00

A true challenge lies ahead of Frank Mir. The former UFC heavyweight champ and now Interim heavyweight champ will battle the other holder of the belt, Brock Lesnar, in UFC 100.

Mir had proven that he have the skills and the will to be the best. Even after the seemingly career-ending injury, he bounced back to fight again eventually beating the MMA Hall of Famer, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, to claim the Interim championship. Now, to settle the best UFC heavyweight, he will try to defeat Brock Lesnar --- the physical powerhouse he narrowly defeated last year.

It should be noted that at that time, it was still at the infancy of Lesnar’s MMA experience and development. Frank Mir was severely pummeled and it looked like he was losing. But suddenly, with a stroke of brilliance, he caught the inexperienced Lesnar in a sensational kneebar to win the match.

After that match, Mir had shown huge improvement in his stand-up striking and cardio. He dominated Nogueira and taunted Lesnar saying that he wants half of his belt back. Alternatively, Lesnar had fought twice since their match. He conquered power-punching Heath Herring and the geriatric wonder, Randy Couture. Lesnar had clearly improved in all aspects, especially in his striking and pacing but more importantly, he gained a great amount of experience against the two veterans he had fought. Lesnar had learned to avoid the rookie mistakes and embraced his superior physicality.

In scrutiny, Mir’s distinct advantage over Lesnar is his jiu-jitsu but it is difficult to imagine that Lesnar will make the same mistake of leaving a submission opening again. For sure, Brock will devote his training in submission defense. By negating the jiu-jitsu, he feels that there is no way that Mir can win. Based on the first match, he is massively stronger, more powerful, and deceptively faster. On UFC 100, he will try assert his size advantage through his wrestling skills. He may resort to striking using those cinder blocks he calls fists.

I’m not counting Mir out. I’m just stressing that Frank Mir’s odds are reasonably not good. Personally, I want Mir to win because in his victory, the essence of martial arts will be demonstrated. I want to see that a physically disadvantaged guy can win against a monster by means of skill and heart.

Counter Technique #1

2009-07-03T15:11:00.014+08:00

Jab Slip and Left Uppercut

1) As the opponent throws his jab, sidestep forward while angling to your left

2) Outside slip his punch and throw the uppercut to his jaw

3) It is best to follow up with a straight right

Very good against fighters that has a high guard and can't be hit by straight forward punches. This counter heavily relies on reflexes and intuition. If you're quick and your opponent throws a lazy or overcommitted jab, it will be much easier to pull off.

In the video, Marquez already knew that when he rushes in, Jandaeng throws a defensive jab at him. So JMM executed this counter to neutralize the Thai's jab. Keep in mind that Juan Manuel, is already a move ahead in this exchange because of his ring intelligence and keen intuition. Let me emphasize that Marquez executed this counter move perfectly.

How to improve this technique:

Flow Drills
Focus Mitts
Constant Sparring

note: This is against a southpaw can be done against the right straight of orthodox fighters.

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Fighting Hotties (Part 2)

2009-06-29T23:22:00.019+08:00

Kyra Gracie
Jiu-Jitsu fighter

Nationality: Brazilian
Titles: 2X World Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Champion, 5X Pan American BJJ Champion 5X Brazilian BJJ Champion, 5X New York State BJJ Champion, 2X ADCC Submission Grappling Champion Asiatic BJJ Champion
Discipline: Gracie Jiu-jitsu

She is one of the few Gracie women to achieve a black belt in BJJ, and is the first Gracie female to actively compete in the sport.

Laila Ali
Boxer

AKA: Lay Lay
Nationality: African-American
Fight Record: 24-0
Discipline: Western Boxing

She is the daughter of boxing icon Muhammad Ali. Like her father, she excels in the sport and considered by many as pound for pound best female boxer.

Felice Herrig
Kickboxer

AKA: Lil’ Bulldog
Nationality: American
Fight Record: 20-3-1
Discipline: Muay Thai

She had several titles in IKA and WAKO. She is currently on the St. Louis Enforcers team in the World Combat League. She also appeared on Fight Girls in 2007 on the Oxygen Channel and won her fight in Thailand against a champion Thai fighter.

Jessica Rakoczy
Boxer

AKA: The Ragin'
Nationality: Canadian
Fight Record: 30-3
Discipline: Western Boxing

She is a female boxer from Hamilton, Ontario. She is ranked 4th in the world and is as a 3 time WIBA World Champion and NABAW Light Weight Champ.

Mia St. John
Boxer/Taekwondo Jin

AKA: Bunny Boxer, The Knockout
Nationality: American
Fight Record: 45-10-2
Discipline: Western boxing, Taekwondo

She is a Taekwondo blackbelt, boxer, model, and businesswoman all rolled into one. She has posed for Playboy and has her own workout videos.

Carina Damm
MMA Fighter

AKA: Barbie Girl, Beauty but the Beast
Nationality: Brazilian
Fight Record: 9-3
Discipline: Brazilian Jiu-jitsu

She is a Brazilian mixed martial arts competitor. She is regarded for her looks as much as her fighting abilities. She has appeared in a clothed pictorial for the Japanese version of Playboy magazine.

Back to Part 1

Some women fighters worth mentioning:

Erin Toughill

Fighting Hotties (Part 1)

2009-06-29T14:33:00.035+08:00

Hot Women Can Also Fight

Sure, in the world of gladiatorial sports and martial arts, strength and physical ability is a requirement. This is the main reason why men dominate the industry and women take the back seat just marveling the spectacle.

But the ever changing norms of society have developed women to join the ranks of men in professional fighting. It is not a career lucrative for men only. Women, nowadays, can have fortune and fame out of fighting. Fans wants to see more of them and suddenly, the awkwardness of seeing two women beating the hell out of each other has vanished.

Female prize fighting is now mainstream. And a lot of women are drawn to fighting glory; women who were once simply preoccupied by making themselves pretty are trading haymakers and roundhouse kicks. Don’t be mistaken, women still do what they do… still dolling-up, looking pretty but in this day and age, they can also kick ass.

Here are some of the most beautiful women in the fight game:

Michelle Waterson
MMA Fighter

AKA: Karate Hottie
Nationality: Asian-American
Fight Record: 5-3
Discipline: Karate

Juggling bikini modeling and MMA training at Jackson’s camp.

Gina Carano
MMA Fighter

AKA: Conviction, Crush
Nationality: American
Fight Record: 7-0
Discipline: Muay Thai

She is the most popular female MMA fighter today and was one of the main attractions of the now defunct EliteXC. Arguably the best female fighter along with “Cyborg”. Trains at Xtreme Couture.

Keri Taylor
Kickboxer/Sanshou Fighter
AKA: Keribear
Nationality: Asian-American
Fight Record: 5-2
Discipline: Muay Thai

Keri is regarded as a technical and explosive fighter. She is a team member of the Oklahoma Destroyers who compete on Chuck Norris's World Combat League.

Holly Holm
Boxer

AKA: The Magician, The Preacher’s Daughter
Nationality: American
Fight Record: 24-1-3
Discipline: Western Boxing (Southpaw)

She was named Fighter of the Year in 2005 and 2006, and in 2007 she was the first female fighter to win six different Major World titles at Welterweight. Regarded by some as the #1 pound for pound along with boxing royalty, Laila Ali.

Sarah Ponce
Kickboxer

AKA: Queen of the Four-Rounders
Nationality: American
Fight Record: 12-1
Discipline: Sanshou, Kickboxing

Sarah Ponce is a fashion model and kickboxer. She was a member of the USA Sanshou team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In 2003, she was named model of the year by the UjENA Modeling Agency.

Go to Part 2

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"MMA" Styles make Fights

2009-06-27T00:05:00.001+08:00

These are the generic styles in MMA. Since it is called “Mixed” Martial Arts, fighters combine these different elements to achieve a better game. But it is apparent that fighters are more inclined to certain style that somehow defines their fighting approach.

Fighting Styles in MMA:

Brawler/Fist Bomber – willing to trade punches; likes to throw haymakers; likes to set up overhands, hooks, and power uppercuts; has the Knockout Mentality; can absorb a great amount of punishment and also a good sprawler

Boxer/Sprawler – very good technical boxing skills, hits hard but avoids trading, good footwork and head/torso movement, good defensive sprawl against takedowns

Traditional MuayThai – Likes to chase and pressure; always square to the opponent and throws powerful Leg Kicks and Knees in the clinch; tough as nails

Finesse Kickboxer - Uses kickboxing tools to control distance; picks shots but does not give full commitment to his attacks; has good footwork; avoids trading blows; avoids the ground as much as possible

Dirty Boxer – prefers hitting on the clinch; good at stand-up grappling while giving effective short punches and elbows; good at defending and making takedowns; has great endurance

Counter Specialist – likes to be chased and wants the opponent to initiate the attack and capitalize on the mistakes and openings; has sharp reflexes; great foot work and movement

Takedown Artist – has the complete tools to pull off the takedown; very technical wrestler with great hips and sensitivity

Ground and Pound specialist – deals the most damage on the ground with good top control and solid blows via elbows, hammer fists, etc….

Submission Artist – Jiujitsu masters; prefers the ground game; may pull guard if the opponent is hard to takedown; does not give full commitment to ground and pound but may throw blows to set up a submission move

Ground and Pound/Submission Hybrid – will give severe ground beating while always on the look out for a submission opportunity; has good takedowns

Wrestler/Smotherer – great at takedowns but when on the ground the main priority is to attain and maintain control; prefers to smother, frustrate, and tire opponents; throws some tentative attacks on the ground but never really commits unless certain of positional advantage; good cardio

More or less, fighters have an amount of expertise in each of these styles. But ultimately, they have a distinct method in which they often use. The style they believe they can count on.

These are some of the fighters with their ingredient of techniques:

Anderson Silva - Counter Specialist, Finesse Kickboxer, Ground and Pound/Submission Hybrid

Fedor Emelianenko - Brawler/Fist Bomber, Takedown Artist, Ground and Pound/Submission Hybrid

Georges St. Pierre - Takedown Artist, Ground and Pound/Submission Hybrid , Finesse Kickboxer

Lyoto Machida - Counter Specialist, Finesse Kickboxer

Rampage Jackson - Counter Specialist, Brawler/Fist Bomber, Ground and Pound specialist

Demien Maia - Submission Artist, Takedown Artist

Clay Guida - Wrestler/Smotherer, Dirty Boxer

Randy Couture - Dirty Boxer, Takedown Artist, Ground and Pound specialist, Wrestler/Smotherer

The JAB

2009-06-24T21:53:00.012+08:00

Boxing coaches will often overemphasize the importance of the jab to their fighters.

“You cannot fight if you can’t throw the jab right.”

Old school trainers live by that code.

The Jab is the fastest offensive tool. It travels a short distance and it is highly intuitive; therefore, very effective if used correctly.

In boxing, successful fighters respect and know the value of the jab. They utilize it in ways that will add to their advantage. Most of the time, the effectiveness of the jab is the deciding factor of the match; the difference between winning and losing. Sometimes, jabs do not need to be powerful, do not even have to land…. But it all depends on its purpose.

Purposes of the Jab

To stun – a well timed and placed jab will stun a rushing opponent; can even KO if enough force is given

To cut and injure - since jabs are frequently thrown and landed more than any other punches, it will most likely, damage the face due to constant beating

To measure – the jab is a good tool to measure your effective range

To keep opponents at bay – if you’re tall and long, you can keep opponents away from their punching range with your long jab

As a set up – a jab will create openings for your power punches to exploit. These set-up jabs do not even have to hit; may be used as a feint just to entice a reaction.

As a defense/counter - rushing opponents will be stopped by a simple jab (stop-hit)

As an entry to shorten the distance – sluggers/in-fighters jab first before going inside; it will create a diversion so a fighter can shorten the distance safely

Types of Jab

There is no absolute way to execute a jab. As long as it serves your purpose, it is considered the right way.

Flicker Jab – a fairly weak jab executed mostly by the arm; does not really hurt but bothers and stings; it commonly serves as to keep the opponent busy as you set-up your power punch; Ali and Hearns used this style.

Double Jab – a jab that is followed by a stronger jab; it is for opponents that try to counter off your first jab. They will get hit by the quick follow-up jab because they think that the first jab will not be followed up or will be followed up by a punch from the other hand.

Double Jab (set-up) – doubling up the jab to set-up a right power punch

Power Jab – generated with most force without telegraphing; the intention is to hurt and stun; a Knockout is also probable

Stiff Jab – quite similar to the power jab but with an added push at the end of the punch by stiffening the arm

Counter Jab – a jab used after parrying or slipping an opponent’s punch

Different opponents pose different problems. So, in effect, there will be a corresponding type of jab suited for a certain fight. A fighter will face different challenges and variety of styles. Sometimes, a boxer will have to fight someone taller, shorter, longer, quicker, tougher, etc… A smart fighter will always adapt to different variables and his jab will also be subject to vary.

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GSP faces a tough challenge in hard-hitting Thiago Alves (Part 3 of 3)

2009-06-21T09:00:00.002+08:00

Part 3: The Match-up

GeorgesSt. Pierre has never fought someone like Thiago Alves. This also goes for Alves, who has never faced of someone St.Pierre’s caliber. Knowing their skill sets, it is easy to say that GSP must bring it to the ground and Pitbull must stay off the mat and make it a kickboxing match…. but in MMA, it is not always that straightforward.

Ever since, the champion has been fighting with a reasonably general strategy customized with few critical tweaks and fine-tuning based on his opponents’ strength and weakness. Mixing things up, strike using his quickness and technical brilliance then, with it, set up a takedown. After that, severe ground and pound while keeping an eye for submission opportunities. If it goes standing again, repeat step one. It’s rather simple and only GSP can to pull it off to perfection. But this time, against the man they call the Pitbull, he has some crucial obstacles to contend with

It is very rare and perhaps, the first time that GSP will face a bigger and maybe even stronger opposition. St. Pierre is already considered a big welterweight but Thiago Alves will probably outsize him on fight night. This size factor will somehow work in favor of Alves. Will the Canadian take him down? Can GSP control him on the ground? These are the questions that will be answered in the fight. We all know that GSP is a takedown and ground n’ pound genius but Thiago has been brilliant in his takedown defense. For sure, he has been improving this facet in his game and he will come prepared against GSP’s wrestling. Additionally, the Pitbull may be too big or strong enough to dwarf St. Pierre’s ground game. For GSP, it will all come down to technique and this will be another opportunity for him to display his superior wrestling knowledge.

Thiago Alves knows that his chances of winning are much higher if the fight will stay standing. He believes that he hits harder and he has the better kickboxing skills. Indeed, a more than 50% KO ratio strongly suggests that he’ll be better off striking. Thiago, as usual, will play the stalker, in your face pressure fighter route; a very traditional muay thai approach where he stays square and always in front the opponent. He will set-up his kicks especially the leg-kicks but he must be aware that St. Pierre is very good at catching those kicks then following up with the straight right or takedown or both. But then again, Alves does not seem to telegraph does leg kicks and he does not throw them haphazardly just to be caught by a counter. Thiago just needs to be careful with those. Although it is quite a big risk for GSP making it a stand-up fight, he just might get the better of Alves if he will use his innate quickness and footwork. A good stick–and-move, in-out-in-out, up-down-up-down, may just work against the challenger. But I repeat, BIG risk!

If Thiago avoids being taken down and if his leg kicks consistently lands even for just two rounds, the fight will most likely go his way. GSP must avoid those punishing kicks so he can still be explosive in his offense. If you take away GSP’s legs you take away the tools he heavily relies on --- footwork, takedown explosiveness, superman attacks, kicks.

Battered thighs = GSP, a sitting duck.

The safest route for Georges to take is to stay off the striking pocket of Alves by either staying on his toes in striking or by bridging the distance then do some clinching and grappling depriving Thiago sufficient distance to tee off on his attacks. The latter will be much safer and if he takes Alves down, even better for St. Pierre. GSP needs to do this for at least three rounds. No matter how excellent the conditioning of Thiago Alves, he will never outcardio St. Pierre. His large muscles will work against him; his bulky body utilizes more oxygen and without any championship round experience, it will be a big disadvantage for him. Well, as for St. Pierre, he is obviously a cardio machine. There is no doubt about that.

Entering the fourth and fifth rounds, GSP can safely gamble more in stand-up considering his legs are not battered. At that point, you may witness some flashy moves from the champion. If this is the case, in the final rounds, St. Pierre will dominate Alves in all facets of the game.

This will be their probable strategies:

Georges St. Pierre:

Rounds 1-3: Fairly defensive and low-risk; avoid the Pitbull legkicks; some striking but mainly to set-up the wrestling and takedown attempts; main purpose is to tire Alves; if fight goes to the ground…work,work,work

Rounds 4 and 5: Dominate! ; if uncertain go ground and work,work,work

Thiago Alves:

Rounds 1-3: Bully GSP on striking; Pressure effectively, land those leg kicks and if in clinch, throw those knees but be aware that one leg off the ground is 50% more susceptible for takedowns; Capitalize on openings, knock him out whenever possible; Never get on your back. If there is an opportunity, being on top of GSP is a good position; Pace yourself avoid gassing out

Rounds 4 and 5: If all goes to plan in the early rounds disposing GSP in these final rounds will be fairly easy

This match will be decided by the fighter’s successful execution of gameplan, particularly in the early rounds. The winner will be the one who effectively imposes his will and cancels the oppositions’ strengths.

My pick: St. Pierre by TKO in Round 5

Back to Part 1: The Champion

Back to Part 2: The Challenger

GSP faces a tough challenge in hard-hitting Thiago Alves (Part 2 of 3)

2009-06-20T14:54:00.001+08:00

Part 2: The Challenger

As the number one contender, Thiago “The Pitbull” Alves will have a crack at Georges St. Pierre’s welterweight title in the upcoming UFC100.

Thiago Alves is a hard-hitting Muay Thai juggernaut. With his 16-3 record (7-2 in the UFC) 10 wins via KO, his fights were always sensational. His striking is by far one of the most feared among the welterweights. Evidently, the Pitbull can dish out pain. He has power in both hands, awesome knees and powerful leg kicks. In MMA, the counterpart of the boxing's body shot is the chopping leg kick. And Alves has the best leg kick in the business. It is not telegraphed and it always hits the target. Alves unleashes kicks with the intention to break femurs. He executes it differently but more efficiently. It seems to come from the top. Alves cocks his legs way above the target as it reaches its apex, he puts his whole torso on it and bombs his shins through the opponents’ thighs. Josh Koscheck had a pretty tight defense against Thiago but while Josh was preoccupied defending upstairs, the Pitbull was punishing Koscheck’s legs with thunderous kicks. In the long run, Kos offense had lost its spring and explosiveness. Takedowns attempts were slow and obvious; punches lack the power to hurt. It was caused by battered legs that couldn’t produce sufficient force because of trauma. As one of Alves tools of pain, he builds his striking game plan out of those thigh-bruising kicks. He knows that he can always count on them. It is pretty difficult to fight if you worry about receiving kicks downstairs.

Considerably, a Muay Thai practitioner must have exceptional knee strikes and this Brazilian fighter is Muay Thai at its best. Similarly to Anderson Silva, Alves has very good knees in the clinch. If Alves takes a hold on someone’s neck then tees away with his knees as he pulls their head down, it is like watching someone repeatedly getting their faces bashed in. Those knees are fast, sharp, and hard. He is able to throw them from awkward positions and his flying knees are highlight reels. A hit from those, is a certain KO. Just ask Matt Hughes, Karo Parisyan, and Tony Desouza. All of them had tasted those knees.

Thiago Alves at 5’9” is solidly built. He’s a big welterweight. He has to cut a lot of weight to fight at 170. He had been suspended for failing a drug test. Apparently, he had used a diuretic spironolactone to lose excess water weight. Alves also weighed 4 lbs above the welterweight limit when he was scheduled to fight Hughes but the latter accepted the fight at catchweight. Despite these problems in making weight, Alves is too strong for the welterweight class. At fight night, he balloons to a hulking build, an intimidating figure that you know will create a lot of destruction. His size, strength, and athleticism compensate his still questionable wrestling skills. At least, it is harder to take him down and control him on the ground because of his physical attributes. He had troubles against good wrestlers like Jon Fitch and he had early problems with Parisyan's wrestling strategy before knocking him out. But his fights with takedown artists, Hughes and Koscheck, proved otherwise,

Thiago Alves had outstanding performances. He had defeated good fighters and pummeled a Hall of Famer in Matt Hughes. He finishes fights and KO’s most of his opponents. But Thiago Alves has a lot more to prove and a win against St. Pierre will erase all doubts.

Click for Part 3: The Match-up

Back to Part 1: The Champion

GSP faces a tough challenge in hard-hitting Thiago Alves (Part 1 of 3)

2009-06-20T14:29:00.004+08:00

Part 1: The Champion

Georges St. Pierre, the UFC welterweight champion, will battle the Brazilian MuayThai specialist Thiago “Pitbull” Alves as a co-main event in the upcoming UFC 100.

St. Pierre, regarded by many as the top pound for pound MMA fighter, has dominated all the fighters he had fought. His only two losses, one of each from the feuding Serra and Hughes, were soundly avenged. GSP made it clear that these losses were just flukes. Matt Serra got tenderized by the French-Canadian’s ground and pound while Matt Hughes got dominated in the octagon in both of the rematches. St. Pierre’s only unconvincing win was from the hands of BJ Penn. And sure enough, three years later, GSP showed the world that “The Prodigy” is no match for him --- greased or not greased.

St. Pierre is a complete mixed martial artist. He excels in all aspects of cage fighting. His Kyukushin Karate background gave him a solid base for his stand-up. He works with premier boxing and muay thai coaches to further improve that base. He has a great step jab that worked well with his 1-2 combo and his counter left hook is also one of his useful hand tools. His kicks were even more amazing. He habitually utilizes the less common left inside leg kicks. Sometimes, he fools opponents by unexpectedly throwing left headkicks. Also, if he feels cocky enough, he throws occasional spinning back kicks and wheel kicks. The most amazing thing is when GSP use his hands and legs combination. He makes it look effortless. It’s a thing of beauty, a fast and fluid
display of martial arts. GSP’s trademark stand-up moves are his superman punch combo. It’s not just for show; it has been effective in his fights. It is a deceptive combination that he usually ends in a leg kick. St. Pierre had shown that he can also do it from both sides, either from the lead or from the rear.

Georges stand-up is superb but his bread and butter skill is his wrestling. His strength and conditioning training complements his wrestling and focuses particularly in core strength but he is not only strong, his technique and hip sensitivity is impeccable. He trains with the Canadian Olympic wrestling team; he could’ve even wrestled in the Olympics if he wanted to. Even without amateur or collegiate experience, he is a wrestling standout in MMA. Reportedly, he outwrestles his heavier stable mates at Greg Jackson’s camp and takes light heavyweight Rashad Evans, down at will. He surprised his opponents (Sherk, Hughes, Fitch, Koscheck, Trigg), that even with their better wrestling pedigree, he is able to take them down with relative ease. This Montreal native is a monster on top position. He dominates on top by pounding with knees, fists and elbows. Excellent top control with relentless but effective attempts to pass the guard makes him a nightmare on the mat. He had already passed the reputed guards of Penn and Fitch, making them looked like amateurs.

GSP is already a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. Sometimes, he even travels to Brazil to train. With only two wins via submission, his submission grappling skills is often overshadowed by his wrestling supremacy. But with closer look, the Brazilian martial art is evidently present in GSP’s game. He knows how maneuver himself to get away from very threatening jiu-jitsu positions. He knows that a set-up for submission is coming and his knowledge for counters against those is broad. As he ground-and-pounds his opponents he’s always on a lookout for an opportunity to submit them. He will take what is given to him. He’s not shy of giving up a position just to grab a neck, leg, or arm for possible choke or lock. For GSP’s opponents, the threat is always there.

Last but not least, St. Pierre’s cardio is second to none. He has not been outworked before. His pace is too fast and too tiring for opponents. As the enemy tires and fatigues, GSP is just warming up. Fortunately for St. Pierre, as a champion, he fights five rounds. It works well with his asset in the cardio department. He has the liberty of taking challengers in deep waters, ultimately, drowning them.

What makes Georges St. Pierre so special is the way he integrates all of these skills into a single mastery with fluid transition. It results in an effective fighting style that gives plenty of threats to worry about and this unpredictability intimidates GSP’s challengers.

Part 2: The Challenger <------- click this link to continue

Money Pacquiao!!!

2009-06-19T06:20:00.003+08:00

Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao cracked the Forbes top ten list of highest earning athletes. He replaced Floyd Mayweather as the highest earning boxer of today. Floyd was dropped from the Forbes list since he has not fought since December 2007.
Manny is the highest-ranking among the four newcomers on the list.

He tied with Lebron James and golfer Phil Mickelson in sixth place. The speedy southpaw is the only boxer in the top ten, who earned $40 million over the last year. Pacquiao cemented his claim as the world's best pound-for-pound fighter with convincing knockouts of Oscar De La Hoya in December and Ricky Hatton in May. The two blockbuster fights garnered more than 2 million pay-per-view buys in the U.S. and earned Pac-Man $30 million combined.

Pacquiao's massive popularity in his native Philippines is why companies like Nike and San Miguel beer have signed him to endorse their products. Pacquiao intends to use that popularity to run for political office when his ring career is over.

The Forbes Top 10 List of Highest Earning Athletes:
1. Tiger Woods
2. Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Kimi Raikkonen
5. David Beckham
6. Manny Pacquiao, Lebron James, Phil Mickelson
9. Valentino Rossi
10. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Cotto: a subpar performance against Clottey

2009-06-18T22:17:00.004+08:00

As one of the rising superstars of boxing, Miguel Cotto is a fighter boxing aficionados always put under the microscope. He has a great loyal following, especially among his fellow Puerto Ricans. He is considered by them as their next Felix Trinidad.
What’s not to like!? He fights with intensity and dynamite in his fists. When it’s a Cotto match, it is certain that you will witness pain. He hits the body like no other. H
e may not knock you out immediately but he will surely chop you til’ you drop. Many have succumbed to his body attacks. No one seemed to be tough enough against his painful pressure. He lost to Margarito but most people considered that Cotto was cheated that time.
His left hooks to the body often define his wins. Most opponents wilt in the later rounds because of the hurt. Others can’t breathe correctly anymore. Some got KO’d because they left their head unguarded just to protect the sides of their body. Shane Mosley, as tough as he is, felt the power from those shots. Those left hooks threw off Mosley’s timing and strategy. These performances made Cotto a pound for pound player.

So, what happened in the Clottey fight???

Although Cotto won that, it is still a controversial decision. Almost seemed fixed. A judge scored 116-111 for Cotto which is absurd. Okay, I’ll give that match to Cotto. He may have won more rounds but he looked like a beaten fighter. Cotto won the match but seemingly, Clottey won the fight.

Fortunately for Cotto, he got the benefit of the flush knockdown of Clottey near the end of round one, the round which will most likely go to Clottey if he wasn’t knocked down. Cotto got a nasty cut from a headbutt but he did have several moments where he clobbered Clottey against the corner. Clottey seemed to let the Puerto Rican corner him and never really tried to get out of there. Clottey welcomed Cotto’s barrage. Clottey was unfazed. He did a good job of not showing the effects of Cotto’s wicked attacks. Clottey’s toughness seemed to demoralize Cotto. And you could feel that the momentum was shifting. You could see that Clottey was not bothered by Cotto’s power. Cotto, on the other hand, seemed to doubt himself. Clottey repeatedly hit him with straight rights. Clottey was the faster fighter and he hit hard. Cotto obviously felt it and he used his boxing skills to avoid those power shots. Cotto made an effort not to get trapped in corners. Cotto was on his bike. A dancing Cotto is a losing Cotto.

Unfortunately for Clottey, he just didn’t attack enough. He got lazy in the offense and that cost him the fight. But it was quite clear that he could’ve beaten Cotto. If I were Cotto, I will avoid a rematch against Clottey, at least for now.

Considering the Margarito fight, that was the second time where I could see Cotto get discouraged. Cotto shrinks when his opponents were super tough and hits as hard. Margarito can’t hit him during the early rounds. Cotto made a clinic out of Margo. He boxed well and hit the Mexican with powerful shots. The Tijuana Tornado still relentless and pushed forward, he can’t be dropped. Cotto was backpedaling. It was the first time I saw him do that. Cheating or not, Antonio Margarito demoralized Cotto with toughness.

In analysis, Cotto won’t beat Pacquiao with that performance. Pacman is just as tough and very hard to hit because of his footspeed. Pacman will only frustrate Cotto.